Vivian Loh
Destination & Culture Writer
Travel journalist and cultural explorer who has lived in four countries. Vivian focuses on destination deep-dives, local culture, and off-the-beaten-path experiences.
Vivian spent three years living and working across Southeast Asia before relocating to Europe. Her writing draws on deep local knowledge and a genuine curiosity for how people live, eat, and celebrate around the world.
Areas of Expertise
- Southeast Asia, Japan, and East Asia travel
- European city guides and cultural travel
- Food tourism and local culinary experiences
- Budget and mid-range travel planning
Writing Approach
Vivian goes beyond surface-level travel tips. Her destination guides include cultural context, local etiquette, and the kind of neighborhood-level recommendations you only get from someone who has spent real time in a place.
Articles by Vivian Loh (101)
Wildlife in Japan: Hokkaido Bears to Okinawa Sharks
Roughly 90,000 species make wildlife in Japan a region-by-season puzzle: bears in summer, cranes in winter, whale sharks in spring. Plan before you book.
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Earthquake Safety in Japan for Tourists: A Guide
Japan logs thousands of tremors a year, but earthquake safety in Japan for tourists comes down to five decisions you make before you fly out.
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White Day in Japan: The san-bai gaeshi Gift Rule
San-bai gaeshi expects return gifts at two to three times the Valentine's value, and on White Day in Japan the gift type signals more than the price.
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40 Interesting Facts About Japan, Osaka to Kyoto
The best interesting facts about Japan go beyond trivia: 18-second train delays, KFC on Christmas Eve, and skipped 4th floors, with late-2025 prices.
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Japanese Cultural Experiences in Kyoto: Tea and More
Japanese cultural experiences in Kyoto run from a 30-minute matcha session (about USD 60) to a four-hour chaji past USD 150 - here is how to choose.
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Cultural Differences Between Japan and the USA: 6 Areas
A rail firm apologized for a train leaving 20 seconds early: that benchmark frames the cultural differences between Japan and the USA, from tipping to silence.
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Basic Japanese Phrases: 30 Lines That Cover a Trip
Just 20-30 basic Japanese phrases handle most of a trip; here is why sumimasen does the most work, plus the tipping and ordering etiquette apps skip.
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Christmas in Japan: KFC, Cake, and Couples' Nights
December 25 is a normal workday in Japan, where only 1% are Christian and Christmas means KFC buckets, strawberry shortcake, and Christmas Eve date nights.
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Things to Do in Osaka: 3-4 Day Plans Plus Day Trips
The best things to do in Osaka need two full days minimum: sequence Kuromon, the castle, and Universal Studios, then add Kyoto and Nara by train.
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Japanese Castle Towns: The 12 Original Keeps Route
More than half of Japan's cities over 100,000 people began as Japanese castle towns. Read the feudal layout from Matsue to the Nakasendo post towns.
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Hidden Gems in Japan: Cities Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto
Kanazawa draws 8 million visitors a year versus Kyoto's 50 million, and that gap is the case for these hidden gems in Japan, ranked by base and budget.
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Things to Do in Kyoto: Plan by Zone, Start Early
The best things to do in Kyoto cluster into three zones, and crossing them mid-day burns hours. Route Fushimi Inari, Gion, and Arashiyama right.
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